Mechanism for hardening metal balls.



O. W. SCHAUM.

MEGHANISI FOB HABDENINGMETAL BALLS.

rum-r101! rump JULY 27,1912.

1,054,038, 7 Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-BEBE! 1.

Avril/721R ITIORNEY.

cow-In PLANOGIA'H co.,wumnarom u. s,

0. W. SGHAUM. v MECHANISM FOB. HABDENING METAL BALLS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1912.-

ITTORI/EX OTTO W. SCHAUM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR HARDENING METAL BALLS.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25,1913.

Application filed July 27, 1812. Serial No. 711,830.

7 '0 all whom 1' t may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro W. Sonauu, a. citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia. county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have ,invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Hardening Metal Balls, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to mechanism for hardening metal balls. and more particularly such balls as are. to be subsequently employed for antifriction purposes. in order that metal balls of this general type may properly withstand the excessive wear and strains to which they are subjected in use, they must not only be homogeneous and uniform in character, but they must be pro ierly and uniformly hardencd, and with this general object in view the aims and purposes of the present invention are to provide means. simple in construction, etlicient and reliable in operation, whereby metal halls may have imparted to them the desirable hardened character, all of which will best. be made clear from the following description and accompanying drawings of one form of device for carrying the invention into practical effect, it, being understood that the. invention is not necessarily restricted to the particulars or details of such device, but in its true scope is defined by the claims.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a side view of a machine or apparatus embodying a convenient form of devices for carrying the invention into etl'cct, some of the parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is a sect-ion on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1 with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a revolving furnace or heating device for uniformly heating the balls; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail showing an adjustable feeding device for feeding metal balls to the furnace or heating device: Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6. Fig. 4, showing one means for discharging the heated balls from said furnace and directing them to the quenching mechanism: Fig. 7 is a sectional view at the feed end of the furnace or heating device, showing how the balls are fed uniformly and in proper quantities to be heated: Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8. Fig. 7,

- heatresisting showing the measuring device feeding a roper quantity of balls to the furnace; and *ig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8,

parts bein broken away showing the measuring fee er scooping up balls to be fed to the furnace.

In order that the balls may be uniformly heated the present invention contemplates that they be subjected to the action of the heating medium so that the latter may act equally on all the balls submitted thereto. and as one form of means to this end, a furnace A preferablv of cylindrical form, is

provided and the heating medium is introduced at one end and the. balls at the other, suitable means being provided for slowly turning the cylindrical furnace and traveling the balls gradually lengthwise thereof in a single layer.

In the present form of the invention, a suitable supporting frame 1 has mounted thereon the cross )ieces 9. Fig. l, carrying bearings 3 for a shaft 4, driven by a worm wheel 5, which derives motion from a worm 6, Fig. 4, on a transverse shaft. 7 which, in turn. may be driven from any suitable or convenient source of power. Preferably two shafts 4, Fig. (l, are employed. each having wheels or carrying rolls 9, on which rests the cylindrical furnace A, suitable bands 9 about the furnace serving to engage the wheels or rolls 8', the construction being such that as the shafts 4 rotate they turn the furnace A in a manner that will be well understood.

The furnace A comprises a metal shell 10 lined with a suitable heat-resisting material 11. such for instance, as fire clay. At. one. end. the left, (Figs. 1 and 4) the cylindri cal furnace is provided with an opening 12 through which the heating medium, such as gas or other desirable fuel may be passed into the furnace, but. as such feature of the furnace may he of any general character and is well understood in the art, further detail description thereof is unnecessary, the essential being that the cylindrical furnace shall have introduced longitudinally or lengthwise, a suitable ball heating medium. At the opposite end the furnace has a cap 13, also suitably lined with fire clay or other material, and extending through said cap is the feed opening 14 for the balls to be treated. Secured to the cap 13, as by bolts 15, Figs. 8 and 9, is the t feed snout 16 of the general character indilit) cated by Fig. 8, said snout 16 having a side entrance 17 through which the balls may be fed, as will more fully appear. Secured to the outer portion of the cap 13 is the wall 18 preferably, though not necessarily. of conical form, and serving to provide a feed chamber 19 at the feed end of the furnace.

Mounted on a suitable support 20, Figs. 1 and 4, extending from the frame 1, is the ball-charging device, preferably formed as a metal casing 21, the edges 22 of which overlap the adjacent edge of the feed chamber wall 18, as best shown by Fig. 4, the construction being such that as the cylindrical furnace is revolved and with it the wall 18,

there will be maintained between the feed chamber 19 and the ball-charging device an uninterrupted communication for the passage of balls from the charging-device into the feed chamber.

In order to facilitate the passage of the balls into the charging device. the latter may be provided with a spout or mouth 23, the opening in which maybe conveniently opened and closed by a valve 24, Fig. 4. If desired, the device may be otherwise connected to the feed chamber, the only essential being that balls fed to the charging device may readily find their way into the bottom of the feed chamber 19, where they remain during the revolution of the furnace and feed chamber by virtue of gravity until taken therefrom by the measuring feeder. which will now be explained.

Passing through the wall 18 of the feed chamber is the measuring feeder shown as a scoop like the device 25 having a lip 26 projecting into the feed chamber. Mounted to slide in the scoop 25 is a block or slide 27 screw-threaded to the adjusting stem 28, Figs. 5, 7. 8, and 9, which is provided with a hand wheel 29. whereby the slide 27 may be adjusted to different positions in the scoop and thereby regulate or measure the number of balls that will be taken up by the scoop as the furnace and feed chamber wall 18 rotate. A convenient form of such measuring feeder is indicated by Fig. 6, and as therein shon the slide 27 may have secured thereto a gage 30 having marks 31 thereon to indicate the quantity of balls in the measuring feeder for a purpose that will presently appear.

From the construction thus far described, it will be noted that as the feed chamber and furnace rotate, the scoop 25 will scoop up from the bottom of the chamber a quantity of balls, dependent upon the adjustment of the slide, 27, as indicated by Fig. 9; and as the rotation continues the balls will be carried upward, as indicated by Fig. 8, until they roll out of the measuring feeder or scoop 25 over the lip 26 and drop into the side opening 17 of the feed snout 16 from which they pass by gravity into the furnace.

As hereinbefore noted, it is desirable that the balls be uniformly and thoroughly treated, and to this end it is desirable that only sufficient balls be fed into the furnace. at one time to insure that they arrange themselves in a single layer. and that this single layer formation be maintained as the balls roll and rotate in their movement t the discharge end. Obviously, therefore, the number of balls introduced by the measuring feeder will be dependent upon the size of the balls, a greater number of small balls being susceptible of the desired single layer treatment than larger ones at any one chargmg.

In order to maintain the balls in single layer and prevent over-riding and to cause them to travel lengthwise of the furnace. the furnace A is provided with an internal spiral 32, Fig. 4, projecting beyond the surface of the fire clay lining 11. such spiral being preferably formed as a rib extending from the casing 10, though any other spiral rib formation that will serve the intended purpose may be employed. It. will be noted that the balls are introduced to the furnace at the end opposite the fuel supply and in measured quantities to permit and maintain a single layer formation regardless of thc size of the balls. and that they are thus gradually and progressively subjected to the final temperature desired, while uniform treatment is assured to all of the balls aliloand at all parts of each as they roll and turn in single laver during their travel.

"When the properly heated balls have reached the discharge end of the furnace it is desirable that a proper quantity of such balls will be then discharged into the quenching portion of the apparatus, and here again the present invention contenr plates a proper quenching by still restrictmg the number of balls to such treatment that the treatment may be of the same uni form character as marked the heating operation. At the end of the furnace, opposite that. into which the balls were originally fed, there is provided a discharge opening for the balls, best indicated by Figs. 4 and 6. This opening may be preferably formed as indicated in Fig. 6 wherein is provided the lining 33 having substantive lip portions 34 to coact with a door 35 which may be formed as indicated in Fig. (l and to pro vent burning may be made hollow. 'lhis door is preferably supported on the links 36 pivoted at 37 to the furnace. Since the furnace is to be revolved durin the heating operation upon the balls, it is desirable that the door 35 be held in place and prevented from opening at undesired times. To thi end any suitable means may be employed. but the present invention contemplates a bail or projection 38 secured to the door and adapted to ride; upon a guide or trackand at all points. Hereinbefore, while referring to the treatment of the balls by the furnace andthe quenching drum, it has been stated that the balls should be prevented. as far as possible, from piling one upon the top of another so that each ball shall receive its proper treatment unprotected by other halls. To maintain this properly separated. condition the spout 48 leading into the end of the quenching drum. Figs. 1 and 2, is preferably formed suiticiently large to permit the full number of balls transmitted thereto to roll therefrom in single layer formation into the quenching drum. In the present form of the invention, in this respect. the spout 48 is divided, as indicated in Fig. 2, in order to straddle the shaft 52 of the quenching drum, but it is obvious that it night he made in the single form. if desirec As the halls are discharged from the spout 48 into the quenching drum in the manner hereinbefore noted. they are directed beneath the surface in the water of the tank- 50 by the spout -18. and will have produced upon themselves the objectionable zone of steam or vapor. In order to remove this, and permit the balls to be uniformly cooled throughout their entire extent, the present invention contemplates projecting against the balls as they are discharged from the spent 48 into the quenching drum, a stream of water or other quenching liquid. and as "one means to tins end there 1s provided a 35 nozzle 56 adiadent each opening of the spout 48,;as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. These nozzles 56-are preferably flattened some what so that the stream of quenching liquid which is diredted against the balls as they fall from the spout 48 will be distributed over the entire series of balls discharged therefrom. This forceful action of the quenching liquid directed from the nozzles 56 directly against the heated balls serves to dissipateand drive from around the balls the objectionable zone of vapor or steam and to permit each of the balls to be thoroughly treated throughout its entire superficial area to the faction of the moving liquid while the balls themselves are ,kept in motion rolling in a manner to insure that all parts of the balls may be properly treated.

It will be understood that as the halls come down the spout- 4S and the entire quenching drum between the feed spirals 55. they are in active rolling motion and as they strike the'lower supporting surface of the quenchlng drum. this rolling activity is still maintained. consequently the blast. or stream of water or other quenching hquid directed by the nozzles 56 and treating the balls at all parts thereof. eliminates effectively the objectionable zone of steam or vapor which might otherwise be formed.

.Any suitable form of liquid supply, prefi erably water, may be directed through the i nozzles 56, but in the present form of the invention the nozzles 56 are shown as connected by a pipe 57, Figs. 1 and 2, to a pipe 58, extending transversely of the quenching tank and being itself connected to an upwardly extending pipe 59. Connected to the pipe 59 are the'two conduits or pipes 60 and 61 provided with a suitable hand valve 62. One of these pipesmay, if desired, lead to a supply of cold water, as for 4 instance the pipe 60, and the other of these, as "for instance the pipe 6t, may lead to a supply of hot water, whereby the temperature of the quenching liquid may beadjusted to suit the conditions of use by a simple manipulation of the hand valves 62.

Extending from the pipe 59 is a circulating pipe 63, Fig. 1, connected at 64 with the discharge pipe 65, the lower portion of which is connected to a suitable pump 66 which may be itself in circulating communication with the quenching tank 50. In the circulating pipe 63 is the hand valve 67 and a similar valve 68 is provided in the discharge pipe 65, whereby, upon proper manipulation of these respective hand valves the pump 66 may be caused to circulate the liquid in the desired course.

As hereinbefore noted, both ends of the quenching dr um 51 are open, and extending into the discharge end, at the right (Fig. 1)

of the drum, is a trough 69. Atthe dis-v charge portion of the quenching drum are a series of buckets which, as the balls are fed lengthwise of the quenching-drum by the feeding ribs 55, serve to enact and carry the balls upward from the lower partof the quenching drum to a point directly over the trough 69 or a portion thereof, and upon further rotation of the drum to discharge the balls into the said trough 69 whereby they are carried from the machine and delivered to a proper receptacle.

From the general character of the invention described with relation to the illustratedmeans for carrying it into practical effect, it will be apparent that the balls to be hardened are first uniformly heated in a manner to subject each of the balls to the gradually increasing temperature effect, until the balls, having been appropriately and uniformly heated, are discharged in proper quantities into the quenching portion of the apparatus, where they are directed beneath the quenching liquid. As they thus meet the quenching liquid, it will be noted that a stream of water or other liquid is directed against the balls while the latter are in active rotative movement, whereby each of gthe balls is subjected to treatment which eliminates therefrom the formation of a zone of steam or vapor and insures proper and uniform hardening of the ball throughout its entire extent. As the balls become nuances cool, in the manner stated, they are carried lengthwise of the quenching drum by the rotation of the latter and delivered therefrom in proper Throughout the treatment, as will be apparent, the balls are fed to the furnace in suitable quantities to insure that the series of balls between the feeding ribs of the furnace will maintain a single layer formation 19 as they travel lengthwise of the furnace,

' thus insuring that each one of the balls during its rotative movement, shall be uniformly and fully treated and that all balls shall be treated alike. It will also be apparent that this same predetermined quantity of balls upon each rotation of the fur nace is delivered into the quenching portion 1 of the apparatus, Where they are not only quenched or treated by the quenching liquid,

but in virtue of their predetermined numher and the forceful direction upon them of the quenching liquid, they are uniformly hardened throughout.

It Will be obviousthat. various changes may be made in the details for carrying the invention into practical efi'ect, and With this in mind, the invention is clearly pointed out by the claims.

What is claimed is h"- l. In a quenching apparatus for metal balls the combination of a furnace for uni- 'formly heatin the balls, a quenching tank, means for directing the heated balls from said furnace to said tank, and means extend- ;;,'.ing into the quenching tank adjacent the point where the balls are received for forcing a stream of liqui upon the balls when they reach the quenching tank.

, 2. In a quenching apparatus for metal,

balls, .the combination of a furnace, a quenching tank associated with said.,furnace, means for directing the heated balls from said furnace to said tank, means for causing the balls to turn in said tank, and

the quenching tank for directinga stream of liquid upon the balls at the point where they are received 'fromthe furnace for dissipating the zone of steam or vapor formed about the balls as they are treated by the quenching liquid in the tank.

3. In a quenching apparatus for metal balls, a furnace for heating the balls, a 5 quenching tank, a quenching drum in said 5.55 tank, means for, directing the heated balls into the quenching drum, and means for forcing a stream of liquid through the end of the quenching drum and upon the balls as they reach the quenching drum.

4. in a quenching apparatus for metal balls, a furnace for heating the balls, a quenching tank, a quenchmg drum in said tank, means for revolving the. quenching drum, means for directing the heated balls into the quenching drum, and means includhardened condition.

balls and preventing the formation of'a zone a liquid conduit having an opening within .ing a nozzle for forcing a stream of liquid in la general direction longitudinally of the l quenching drum and upon the balls as they reach the quenching drum; in a quenching apparatus for metal I balls. the combination of a heating furnace, at quenching tank, a quenching drum in said tank and having an open end, means for rotating the quenching drum, means for directing heated balls from said furnace into 1 saidrevolviug drum, and a nozzle extending V into the open end of the revolving quenching drum for directing a stream of liquid upon the heated balls asthey are delivered to the quenching drum. 6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a furnace for heating metal balls, a'cylindrical quenchingdrum i disposed below the furnace, means for rotating the drum, means for directing heated i balls from the furnace into the quenching quenching drum adjacent the point where the balls are received by said drum for directing a stream of liquid directly upon'the of steam or vapor about the balls.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical furnace for heating metal balls, a quenching drum associated with said furnace, "means for revolv- 'ing the drum and furnace, means in the furnace and drumfor feeding a series of balls longitudinally of the furnace and drum respectively in single layer formation as said furnace and drum are revolved to insure equal and proper treatment' of all the balls of a series, means for directing the balls of a series from the furnace to the quenching drum, and a device extending 5 into the revolving quenching drum and ex tending adjacent the point where the ballsof a series are received by the quenching drum for forcing a stream of liquid against the ballsof a series as they are rotated and 1 preventing the formation of a zone of steam or vapor about the balls. 8. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a cylindrical furnace I for heating metal balls, a quenching drum 1 5 associated with said furnace, means for re volving the drum and furnace, means in the furnace and drum for feeding a series of balls longitudinally of the furnace and drum respectively in single layer formae 120 tion as said furnace and drum are revolved to insure equal and proper treatment of all the balls of a series, means for directing the balls of .aseries from the furnace to the spout entering the end of the quenching drum, and a device extending into the revolving quenching drum and extending adjacent the point Where the balls of a series quenching drum, said means comprising a are received by the, quenching drum for 1st),

forcing a stream of liquid against the balls of a series as they are rotated and preventing the formation of a zone. of steam or vapor about the balls.

9. In an apparatus of theclass described, the combination of a cylindrical furnace for heating metal balls, means for feeding a measured quantity of balls to the furnace, a tank below the furnace, a quenching drum in said tank, means for revolving the a furnace and drum, spiral feeding devices in the furnace and drum for feeding the said measured quantity of balls longitudinally of the furnace and drum respectively in single layer formation as said furnace and drum' are revolved to insure equal and proper treatment of all the ballsof the measured quantity, means for directing the measured quantity of balls from the furnace to the end of the drum at a point in the latter within the spiral feeding device, and a. nozzle extending into the end of the v quenching drum adjacent the point within the spiral feeding devices, where the balls are received for forcing a stream of liquid directly upon the balls as they are rotated and preventing the formation of a zone of steam or vapor about the balls.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical furnace for heating metal balls, means for feeding a measured quantity of balls to the'furnace, a tank below the furnace, a quenching drum in said tank, means for revolving the furnace and drum, spiral feeding devices in the furnace and drum for feeding the said measured quantity of balls longitudinally of the furnace and drum respectively in single layer formation as said furnace and drum are revolved to insure equal and proper treatment of all the balls of the measured quantity, means for directingthe measured quantity of balls from the furnace. to the end of the drum at a point in the latter within the spiral feeding device, and a nozzle having a flattened end portion, extending into the end of the quenching drum adjacent the point within the spiral feeding devices where the balls are received for forc-' ing a stream of liquid directly upon the balls as they are rotated and preventing the formation of a zone of steam or vapor about the balls.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical furnace for heating metal balls, a quenching-drum associated with said furnace, means for revolving the drum and furnace, means in the furnace and drum for feeding a series of balls longitudinally of the furnace and drum respectively in single layer formation as said furnace and drum are revolved to insure equal and proper treatment-of all the balls of a series, means, forv directing the balls of 'a series from the furnace to the quenching drum, a device extending intotlie -revol'ving quenching drum and extending adjacent-the point where thefballs of a series are received by the quenching drum for forc ing a stream of liquid against the balls ofa;

series as they are rotated an'dpreventing the formation of a zone of steam or vapor about the balls, and means for dischargingthe balls from the'quenching drum as the lat r revolves. 4

l2. Inan apparatus of the character'described,- the combination of .a cylindrical drum after they have been properly heate and means extending into the end of the quenching drum for forcing a stream of liquid upon the 'measured quantity of balls as they are delivered to the drum.

' 13. In an apparatus of the character described. the combination of a cylindricalfurnace for heating metal balls, aquenching drum for hardening the metal balls, a meas' uring feeder connected to one end of the cylindrical furnace to feed a measu rled quantity of balls to the furnace, af 'sjpiral rib within the furnace to feed the measured quantity of balls longitudinally in single layer relation to insure uniform heating of all the balls, means for directing such measured, quantity-of balls from the furnace to the quenching drum after they have been heated,'a spiral feeder within the drum to insure a single layer relation of the balls as they are moved longitudinally-of the quenching drum, and means for rotating the furnace and the drum.

14:. In an apparatus of the character described, a quenching'tank, a quenchin drum within. said tank, a spiral rib, with n said drum for maintaining a predetermined number of heated balls in single layer formation and moving them longitudinally of said.

drum, means for rotating the drum and a nozzle extending into the end of the drum 'for'directing a stream of liquid upon said balls while, they are individually rotatedin said single layer formation and preventing the formation of a zone of steam or vapor about said balls.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a quenching tank, a quenchin drum= within said tank, a spiral rib within said drum for maintaining a predetermined.number of. heated balls in single layer formation and moving them longitudinally of] said.

drum, means for rotating the drum and a 1 a measured quantity of balls and spiral ribs nozzle extending into the end of the drum for directing a stream of liquid upon said balls while they are individually rotated in said single layer formation and preventing the formation of a zone of steam or vapor about said balls, and means for varying the temperature ofthe liquid delivered by said nozzle.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical furnace, a quenching tank below said furnace, a quenching drum Within said tank, and means for insuring the heating and quenching of the balls in single la yer formation, comprising a measuring feeder to deliver to the furnace upon rotation thereof in the furnace and quenching drum spaced E to accommodate such measured quantity of 20 balls in single layer and for moving the a measured quantity of balls longitudinally of the furnace and drum While in such single 1 layer formation. and a nozzle extending into i the quenching drum at the point Where the 26 E balls are delivered to the drum for forcing 5 liquid directly and equally upon the balls. In testimony whereof, I have signed my 1 name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l OTTO XV. SCHAUM.

Witnesses:

JOHN THIEL, E. C. RHOADS. 

